Hollow spindle yarn plying machine



Jan. 4, 1944.

'.1. G. MONALLY ET AL HOLLOW SPINDLE YARN FLYING MACHINE Filed March 31,1942 FIGZ.

JAMES GM 'AMLLY DONALD R.MOREY INVfi'NTORS WM BY VQ W A T! ORNE YSPatented Jan. 4, 1944 HOLLOW SPINDLE YARN PLYING MACHINE James G.McNally and Donald R. Morey, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to EastmanKodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationMarch 31, 1942, Serial No. 436,972

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to the twisting, plying, or doubling ofyarn, and more particularly to certain mechanical features utilized inwrapping two or more yarns together by the hollow spindle principle.

In wrapping or plying yarns on a hollow spindle machine, the core yarnor thread is unwound from a supply spool and is passed upwardly througha vertically rotating hollow spindle to a thread guide positioned aboveand in axial alignment with the spindle. The covering or Wrapping yarnor thread is drawn from a supply spool mounted on and rotated by thespindle. For best results, the tension on the two threads should beproperly controlled so that the core thread remains straight and forms atrue core on which the covering thread is wound in spiral relation toform the final plied yarn. In prior hollow spindle machines,v propercontrol of the thread tensions was difficult to achieve, with the resultthat an inferior non-uniform compound or plied yarn was formed.

The features forming the subject matter of the present invention arefound to result in a uniformity of the plied yarn hitherto unattainableby prior construction, and to permit a positive control of thecharacteristics of the resulting plied, double, or compound yarn. Thepresent invention secures these desirable features by proper control ofthe tensions of the various yarn components.

The present invention has, therefore, as its principal object, theprovision of an arrangement for accurately and positively controllingthe tensions on the various yarn components to form a compound or pliedyarn.

A further object of the invention is the provision of tensioning meanswhich may be altered to secure the desired yarn characteristics.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of separatethreadtensioning mechanisms which will enable large quantities of plied yarnof unvarying uniformity to be effectively produced.

To these and other ends, the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the endof the specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front View of, a hollow-spindle yarn plying machine, showingthe relation of the various parts thereof, and the devices for applyingthe tensions to the different yarn components;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the machine shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged or magnified view of the plied yarn formed on thehollow spindle machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to be able to alter, in the desired mannor, the double,compound or plied yarn characteristics; and, having chosen a set ofcharacteristics desirable for a certain type of fabric, to be able toefiectively produce large quantities of yarn with unvarying uniformity,requires a study and knowledge of all the factors (such as threadtensions) which influences these things. Only after a recognition ofthese factors can means be applied for their control.

The most common type of double or plied yarn, used in romaine and otherfabrics, consists of an end of a highly twisted crepe yarn or thread andan end of a low twist yarn or thread. These yarns are twisted togetherwith a common twist of five to twenty turns per inch. When this doublingis performed on the ordinary down draft type of twister, an additionallive to twenty turns plying twist is also imparted to both of thecomponents, as is well known to those in the art.

In the hollow spindle process of the present invention, a highly twistedcrepe core yarn or thread passes upwardly through the hollow center of arapidly turning spindle. Mounted coaxially on and driven by the spindleis a supply spool of a low twist or raw yarn. A distinguished feature ofyarn plied on this principle rather than on a usual down draft principlei that the crepe or core yarn receives no further twist as it passesfrom the supply spool upwardly through the hollow spindle to the pointof union with the raw yarn. Rather, the crepe yarn serves as a truestraight core on which the raw or low twist yarn is wrapped in spiralform, as shown in Fig. 3.

The hollow spindle ply machine is a well-known device in the textileart, and does not per se constitute a part of the present invention sothat a detailed description thereof is not deemed necessary. A portionof such a machine is, however, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and comprisesbroadly, a hollow spindle I I which is driven by a whorl 52 or othersuitable means. A supply spool i3 is mounted on and driven by thespindle I l and carries a supply of raw low-twist yarn I4 whichconstitutes one component of the final plied or compound yarn. The rawyarn is withdrawn from the spool l3, and passes over a tension device,to be later described, and after moving along the balloon path l5 passesthrough a thread guide I6 positioned above and in axial alignment withthe hollow spindle H, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At the guideIS, the low twist raw yarn I4 meets and is wrapped in a spiral formaround a highly twisted crepe core yarn I! to form the final plied orcompound yarn I8 which is finally wound up on the spool or bobbin l9.This crepe core yarn I1 is carried by a supply spool 20 mounted on ashaft 2| carried by a support 22. This core yarn I! after being unwoundfrom the spool 20 passes, without twist, through the hollow spindle IIto the thread guide it, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In adapting such a hollow spindle machine to commercial production ofplied textile yarns with outstanding evenness of twist and evenness ofcharacter, it has been found that certain novel adjuncts are necessary.For example, it has been found that the control of the tension on eachof the component ends of the combination or compound yarn i highlyimportant in determining which component will appear on the surface ofthe compound yarn, and to what extent. Furthermore, the matter oftension application, is important, for the evenness of plying depends onthe maintenance of tension with small deviation from the mean value.

It has been found that the character of the plied or compound yarn iseifected by th relative value of the tensions of the core yarn or threadand the wrapping yarn or thread at the moment of joining together. Thetension in the core (crepe) yarn must be above a certain minimum valueif it is to act as a true core with the raw or low twist yarn spiralingaround it. If the crepe or core yarn tension is allowed to fall belowthi value, the low twist yarn appears to be the straight center thereadwith the core yarn acting apparently as a wrapper. Actually in such acase, the core yarn has not been further twisted, but due to the highraw yarn tension, the core yarn is bent at each plying turn and isforced to lie on the surface of the composite thread. If on the otherhand, the core yarn tension has been brought up to a proper value, butthe raw yarn tension is too low, the raw yarn is too loosely wrappedaround the crepe or cor yarn in a sort of an outside shell which willeasily slip along the core. Poor methods of tension application may alsoproduce plied yarn with irregular twisting. All of these disadvantagesare overcome by the simpl yet effective arn tensioning devices of thepresent invention to be later described.

The appearance of the thread balloon iii depends on the final form ofplied yarn being produced, and is thus connected directly with the yarntension. If the tension of the core yarn i7 is above the minimumnecessary to hold it as a true core of the final plied yarn, the pointof combination of the two yarns components It and i1 is at the threadguide Iii; the raw or low twist yarn H5 passing to the guide iii throuthe balloon i5, and the core yarn it" passing straight to the guide fromthe hollow spindle i i, as shown in full and dotted lines in Figs. 1 and2. If, however, the core yarn ll has a tension below this minimum, thejunction point of the two yarns i l and I? is no longer at the guide it,but somewhere below on the balloon i5 such as at 23, the exact point ofjunction depending on the relative tensions of the two yarn components.

It is apparent that the raw yarn ension, as well as the crepe or coreyarn tension, must be properly controlled to eifect the desired results.

Furthermore, the means of regulating these tensions must be such thatnot only can the characteristics of the yarn be determined, but also themanner of tension regulation must not allow deviation from the propervalue.

Coming now to the actual yarn tension device of the present invention,it may be mentioned that a large number of guide systems were tried onwhich the core yarn made frictional contact. None of these methods weresuccessful, possibly because of the inherent rough surfac of the highlytwisted crepe yarn as compared with the low twist yarn. It is necessaryto wind the core yarn on a well-centered spool or bobbin which can runsmoothly on a shaft, and to apply tension to the yarn indirectly.

This tension mean of the core yarn 1? comprises in the preferredembodiment of the invention, a brake shoe 25 which is pivotallyconnected at 25 to the support 22 of the machine and is adapted toirictio-nally engage a flange 21 of the spool or bobbin 20, as bestshown in Fig. 2. This brake shoe rides on the flange 27 and provides adrag or retarding force for the spool 28 to properly tension the crepeor cor yarn ll drawn therefrom. The brake shoe 25 is formed with anupstanding pin 28 adapted to receive removable washers 29 by which thebraking or retarding eifect of the shoe 25 may be varied or adjusted, asis apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2. Other means for adjusting thepressure of the brake 25 on the flange 21', such as an adjustablespring, will readily suggest themselves to those in the art. Theimportant thing is that the pressure of the brake shoe 25, on the flange2'! be adjustable to secure the desired degree of tension of the crepeor core yarn ll. While th present embodiment has shown the brake shoeapplied to the flange 21 of the spool 20 which pivotally rotates on ashaft 21, it is contemplated that the bobbin or spool 29 may be securedto the shaft 2! so as to rotate as a unit therewith. With such anarrangement, the brake shoe 25 may obviously be applied either to theflange 2'! or to the shaft 2!. By means of such a retarding device, theproper tension is imparted to the core yarn i "l to retain the latter ina straight line and without twist during its passing through the hollowspindle I i to the yarn guide i6 so as to provide a straight true coreon which the wrapping yarn may be applied.

The tension of the low-twist yarn I4 is determined by a number offactors which are; spindle speed, yarn denier, balloon height, size ofbobbin, and mode of take-01f from the bobbin or spool. A thorough studywas made of the way in which proper tension may be applied to thelow-twist yarn in this type of hollow spindle doubler. Traveler deviceshave been tried, including ballbearing travellers fitted to the top ofthe spindle ll. The height of the balloon has been varied, and surfaceshave been used to enclose the balloon to confine it. The low-twist yarnhas been variously treated to change its frictional and flexuralproperties. None of these methods have, however, yielded a yarn of thedesired uniform twist.

It has been found, however, after extensive tests, that the desiredlow-twist yarn tension may be obtained by means of a thin flat flange ordisk 32 secured to the top of the spindle Ii and engaging the top flange33 of the low twist yarn or thread spool I3. As the yarn it is unwoundfrom the spool it, it passes over a well-polished outer edge 3 of theflange 32 and thence along the balloon l to the guide I6 at which pointit joins and is wrapped around the core yarn I1.

It is apparent that the diameter of the flange 32 necessary to produce agiven tension will be related to spindle speed. The flange 32 functionsin two ways as a guide to the low twist yarn tension; (1) regulation ofthe diameter of the balloon l5, and hence the centrifugal force on thelow twist yarn; (2) setting up a frictional drag on the yarn M as itpasses over the polished flange edge 34. It is essential that for properresults, the diameter of the flange 32 be larger than the diameter ofthe spool flange 33 by at least per cent, with a maximum of three timesthe diameter of the spool flange 33. Otherwise, when the raw yarn spoolI3 is full, the eilect of any flange 32 is lost, while as the yarn I4 isremoved, the top flange 33 of the spool l3 itself begins to act as aflange. This produces a variation throughout the course of the yarn.thus apparent that the same beneficial results could be obtained byusing the top flange 33 of the bobbin l3 (providing it is of suflicientdiameter and evenness) as a tension regulating flange on the raw yarn,and taking care not to fill the spool I3 to more than aboutthree-quarters of the maximum diameter. Thus, by use of 1) a bobbinwhose upper end or flange is of a larger diameter than the lower end and(2) an incompletely filled spool of proper head diameter, the samedesirable results are obtained as with the detachable flange 32. It ispreferred, however, to use the separate detachable flange 32 so as toallow the use of the ordinary supply spools as they are received by themill. When a detachable flange 32 is used, the latter is held in placeon the spindle II and against the upper flange 33 of the spool H bymeans of a nut 35 which threadably engages the upper end of the hollowspindle II. Various diameter flanges 32 may be used to secure thetension desired. The flange 32 and the spool l3 constitute a unitarystructure so that the flange may be broadly considered as formed on oras a part of the spool l3.

It is thus apparent from the above description that the tension of thetwo yarn components I4 and I1 may be normally adjusted, controlled, andaccurately maintained. However, if for any reason, a change of tensionis desired, this change can be readily and easily secured merely byreplacement of the flange 32 with another flange of the proper diameter,and/or by varying the pressure of the brake shoe 25 on the flange 21. bythe addition or removal of some of the washers 29. The marked effect ofvariable tension in one or both of the yarn components can be put touseful application by producing novelty yarns in which the twist densityis purposely varied on the com bination yarn. The adjustable tensioncontrol of the crepe yarn offers a convenient means of obtaining thisresult, and this efiect may be obtained by periodically altering thepressure on the brake shoe 25.

It is thus apparent from the above description that the presentinvention provides an arrangement for separately controlling thetensions of the yarn components. These tensions may be normallymaintained constant or may be suitably varied if and when desired. Thetension devices insure a yarn with a straight core component on whichthe other yarn is wound in a spiral form to provide a covering for thecore.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive idea may 'be carried out in a number ofways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to cover all;variations andmodifications thereof falling within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a yarn plying machine, the combination with a rotating hollowspindle, a spool carrying a core thread arranged to pass through saidspindle, a supply of low twist thread mounted on and rotated by saidspindle, means for uniting said threads to form a plied yarn, of anadjustable brake shoe arranged to engage said spool to tension said corethread, and means for controlling the tension of said low-twist threadcomprising a flange associated with said spindle and having a diameterat least 25% gr a r than the di meter of the low-twist thread supply atits fullest size.

2. Ina yarn plying machine, the combination with a rotating hollowspindle, a spool carrying a supply of core thread arranged to passthrough said spindle, a spool of low-twist thread mounted coaxially onand adapted to be rotated by said spindle, means for uniting saidthreads to form a plied yarn, of a brake shoe arranged to apply aretarding force to said first spool to tension said core thread, meansfor adjusting said brake shoe for varying the tension of said corethread, and a tension control for said low-twist thread comprising aflange carried by said spindle and over which said low-twist yarn movesto said uniting means, said flange having a. diameter at least 25%greater than the maximum diameter of the supply of said low-twist threadon said second spool.

JAMES G. McNALLY. DONALDR. MOREY.

